Mountains and Culture - Arrival
On your arrival at Málaga Airport, we will meet you with our air conditioned minibus and transport you along the coast to our luxury apartment, your accommodation for your stay. Situated in Torreblanca del Sol, close to Fuengirola, it is close to the beach, shops, bars and clubs. Later in the evening of this your arrival day, we will meet for dinner in an excellent local restaurant, where we will get to know each other and give a short briefing on the days ahead.
Mountains and Culture Tour Day 1 - 199 km
After breakfast we are off to collect the bikes at 9.30 Then on to fast, sweeping roads heading towards the mountains of the Serrania de Ronda with a coffee stop in the village of Yunquera, high in the mountains. Onwards then, down into a deep valley to El Burgo from where we follow the river to the small white town of Ardales. Crossing the main road from Málaga, we ride alongside the lakes of el Chorro where we stop for an early lunch.
Carrying on eastwards on the sinuous road that borders the lake we have spectacular views. Then we head east, still on mountain roads, towards the natural park of El Torcal, which has hundreds of weird limestone shapes in the rocks!
Southward then to Almogía for a tea break, crossing a Roman bridge and negotiating some very tight hairpins……
From Almogía homewards, again on fast sweeping roads, and a quick hop onto the motorway to Fuengirola, where we arrive back home at approx 6.30pm
Mountains and Culture Tour Day 2 - 275 km
The days route starts with a short motorway ride and then into the mountains. Passing over the Puerto (Pass) de León (940m) we continue to the Venta Galwey for a coffee stop. Then on to the white village of Colmenar and Riogordo (petrol if needed). Climbing now towards Periana, over Puerto Sabar (590m) shortly turning left for some fabulous hairpins, over the Puerto del Sol (1085m) and on to the Venta Alfarnate (the oldest roadside stop in Andalucía), for a leg stretch & snack.
Now we head along the mountain ridge to Ventas de Zafarraya and then inland on sweeping, smooth roads to Alhama de Granada for lunch. After lunch we pass the Pantano (reservoir) de los Bermejales and cross the high plains towards Monachil and the start of our climb to the Ski station of Pradollano at 2100m above sea level, for coffee and photos.
We then descend a different route, hairpins galore and stunning views, passing the Embalse de Canales lake and then on to our hotel in Granada, from where it is a very short walk to the old town with its fabulous tapas bars & restaurants.
Mountains and Culture Tour Day 3 - 355 km
We leave the hotel and head toward Alcalá la Real along fast roads, to visit the impressive Fortaleza (Fortress). From here we go to Jaen with its restored castle at the gateway to the mountains.
Crossing now the valley of the rio Guadalquivir we are in to the Sierra Morena, the mountain range that seperates Andalucía from the rest of Spain. The roads here are a combination of sweepers & twisties – something for everyone!
After lunch we continue the sweep through the Sierra Morena and arrive at our hotel in Córdoba around 4-4.30pm, which gives us plenty of time to visit the old town and the Mezquita (Mosque), built by the Moors – with a Christian Church built inside it by Isabella of Spain!!
The Tapas bars and Restaurants of Córdoba are legendary, all within a short walk of our hotel
Mountains and Culture Tour Day 4 - 267 km
Day 4 is a ride through the Guadalquivir valley, across the flood plain, skirting the Parque Natural de las Sierras Súbbeticas to Priego de Córdoba for the proverbial coffee stop!
Onwards, more mountains now, to Iznájar a village situated above the lake of the same name, for lunch.
From ther, we wend our way southwards to Antequera, cross the Montes de Málaga to Valle de Abadalajís, down to the coast to arrive back at base at around 5pm
Mountains and Culture Tour Day 5 - 281 km
Today we ride the famous Ronda Road! Leaving the coast via Mijas village we head inland towards Coín and then on great sweeping roads past the village of Monda, dropping down to Marbella.
Taking the motorway for a few Kms, we turn inland again at San Pedro de Alcántara and start to climb. 139 bends & curves of all sorts later, we can stop at the top for petrol and a well earned coffee!
A 20 minute hop to the town of Ronda, where we have short break to see the bridge and enjoy the town, then leaving westwards to Grazalema where we stop for lunch. Located at an altitude over 800m, Grazalema is the gateway to the Natural Park.
After lunch we head through the Park towards Setenil de las Bodegas, a small town built in a river gorge, literally under the cliffs. After all the mountain twisties, we now enjoy fast, sweeping bends, passing the villages of Teba on our left and Ardales on our right, all the way back to check the bikes in around 5.30-6.00 pm.
A quick change and up to Mijas for the last night BBQ!
